Challenge yourself to the Great Wall of China in 2019….

We welcome you to explore the Great Wall of China with us. To trek along one of the Seven Wonders of the World is an incredible experience and one that will stay with you for a lifetime. The ideal challenge for those with a passion for history and a sense of adventure, this trek will give you the opportunity to discover China’s hidden charms, astounding cultural past, traditions and mythology.

ABOUT THE CHALLENGE…

Date

12th – 20th September 2019

No. of days

9 days (8 nights)

Registration Fee

Dominic Carolan Co-Founder

Took on the Three Peaks Challenge, London to Amsterdam Cycle, Paris to Geneva Cycle, Vietnam Cycle, North and South Downs way and many more!

Secure your place on this challenge with a registration fee of £349.(1)

Funding options

Charity Fundraiser: Pledge to raise a minimum sponsorship amount of £2,880.(2) or
Self-funder: Choose to pay the tour costs of £1,440 yourself.(3)

Reserve your space on the trek here or head to www.skylineoverseas.co.uk.

Notes:

1. The registration fee is non-refundable. 2. All fundraising incurs costs. The tour costs are 50% of the minimum sponsorship level. The first 80% of this minimum sponsorship is due 12 weeks before the event. 3. Those who self-fund their place will receive an invoice for the tour costs 14 weeks before the event.

All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays in this brochure are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that

everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate. Skyline Tour Operations Ltd – ATOL Number 10069

LUCIE’S GUIDE TO CHINA

Lucie, Skyline’s Marketing Manager, got to tick the Great Wall of China Discovery off her bucket list and it has fuelled her passion for travel and exploring! Here she shares her trip tips…

“To visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World is an incredible experience and the Great Wall truly exceeded all of my expectations! From the picturesque water towers, stunning forestry and delicious traditional Chinese food to picture-perfect views, trekking through rural farmland and visiting the Forbidden City – this trek is filled with culture, history and breathtaking scenery, it has it all! You really do make friends for life on these challenges and the memories I made will stay with me forever.”

Lucie’s Top Tips

Like any challenge, this trek will take you out of your comfort zone but is sure to be an experience you never forget!

Travel with an open mind – you’re about to spend 10 days with a group of people you probably don’t know and taking on a completely new challenge. Embrace it, support each other and you’ll come back to the UK with firm friends for life having accomplished a huge achievement!

Packing a few home comforts will make all the difference, be it biscuits, sweets (for that sugar boost on the Wall!) or some squash to liven up your water.

Separate your clothes and toiletries into different dry bags, not only will this help make packing much easier but it will also make finding things quicker during your trek! You should only pack what you need in your day bag to keep it as light as possible!

Support

From the moment you sign onto the challenge to the trip itself, we’ll be with you every step of the way. You’ll have your own dedicated Event Coordinator in the office who will be on hand to help with anything from providing flight details to discussing fundraising ideas and what to pack. On the challenge itself you’ll be accompanied by an experienced Skyline Leader and UK Doctor as well as our local guides who will work tirelessly to get you safely and happily along the Great Wall.

Exploring China

Our Great Wall of China Discovery takes us along the Huangyaguan section of the Wall with routes through Jinshanling and Mutianyu before finishing in the bustling city of Beijing. For a nominal admin fee you can extend your flights and choose to continue your exploring, be it visiting the Terracotta Army in Xi’an, the Li River in Guilin or the Giant Pandas in Chengdu – to name just a few things China has to offer!

ITINERARY

Day 1 Depart London for Beijing.
Meet our crew and your fellow trekkers at London Heathrow for the journey to China.

Day 2 Arrive Beijing
We arrive in Beijing in the early morning and transfer to Huangyaguan where we catch our first glimpse of the Great Wall on our way to the start of the trek. After lunch we set off to tackle the Huangyaguan section of the Great Wall which, originally built in 557 AD, is known to be particularly stunning because of its water towers that have all been restored to their former majestic glory.
Approx. 3-4 hours trekking

Day 3 Huangyaguan – Qiankaijian Village
Our hike today leads us straight out of the hotel and onto a restored section of the Wall and by mid-morning we will reach the start of “Heavens Ladder”, a steep, narrow climb of over 300 steps. This is a tough section but at the top we are rewarded with stunning views over the Yanshan Mountains and the region below. After congratulating each other we head up again following a path through shrubbery to join the top of the ridge where our path winds around sections of the old wall. In the afternoon we follow the path down the valley into the mountain village where we will stay tonight in a local-run guesthouse; an unforgettable experience in a remote area of China where few tourists have stayed. Approx. 5-7 hours trekking

Day 4 Qiankaijian Village – Jinshanling
After breakfast we head out of the village up a steep trail alongside farmer’s fields up to the wall where Heibei province, Tianjin City and Beijing meet together, known as the “Three Borders Tablet”. We then make our way West with the un-restored wall to our side as we descend back down to the village where we stop for lunch. After lunch we trek further through the village to meet our coach for the transfer to Jinshanling.
Approx. 4-5 hours trekking

Day 5 Guebikou to Jinshanling
This morning we transfer to the start of the Gubeikou section of the Great Wall where, if the weather is good, we can see Miyun reservoir and the Wangjing Tower rising in the distance. This section towards Jinshanling is one of the best preserved areas of the Great Wall

Day 6 Jinshanling to Mutianyu
After breakfast we trek east heading towards Simatai along a much restored section of the wall. Our trek today can been seen for miles as the Wall runs up and down the spine of the mountain. We will take shelter in one of the many watchtowers on the way – you can bet that Genghis Khan never had it so good when he broke through the Great Wall with his Mongol hordes! We end the day with a transfer to our accommodation in Mutianyu.
Approx. 3-5 hours trekking

Day 7 Mutianyu to Beijing
Today is our final morning on the Great Wall! After leaving the hotel and passing a small village we start climbing a steep, wooded track to the top of the Wall for our final breathtaking views over the far off mountains. The section we join is known to be one of most beautiful parts of the wild Wall in Beijing, loved by many photographers. After our final hike we come back down to the road to meet our bus and drive back to the hustle and bustle of Beijing. After a chance to freshen up, we’ll regroup and head out to our celebration meal held in downtown Beijing, a time to reflect on our achievement.
Approx. 3-4 hours trekking

Day 8 Beijing
Today we take time to explore the capital, jam packed with its 17 million residences, and steeped in history and culture. We’ll visit Tiananmen Square and the nearby Forbidden City before grabbing some lunch. This afternoon you can choose to explore the expansive Pearl Market and test your bargaining skills or opt for a foot massage or rickshaw tour of the Hutongs, the oldest area of Beijing. This evening there will be the chance to watch a traditional Kung-Fu performance.

Day 9 Beijing to London
Today we transfer to the airport for our flight back to the UK.

It is usually fair and clear at this time of year with temperatures of around 21–27°C, however you should be prepared for rain. The temperature will drop overnight.

Meals

You will enjoy traditional Chinese cuisine through the trek – you certainly won’t go hungry! Most dietary requirements can be catered for, please advise upon booking.

Packing

We’ll provide you with a kit list tailored to this challenge when you book. Whilst trekking your bag will be transported on the coach so all you need to carry is your day pack with your essential items.

You can choose to raise the full amount of sponsorship to ensure your event costs and minimum amount to your charity are all covered! This way, you don’t have to pay a thing towards your challenge and your charity receives a huge amount of much-needed funds! Both Skyline and your charity will be on hand with fundraising tips and advice to get you started.

You can pay your own event costs – this way every penny you raise will go to your chosen cause! We recognise that a huge part of the challenge can be the fundraising element so with this option you are able to pay for your own place and then raise the remaining amount for charity.

With this option you are able to pay a portion of your event costs (whatever you can manage) and then raise the rest. This just means that you can do a little less fundraising and can make a contribution to your challenge yourself.

Notes:
1. All participants are responsible for their own passports, visas, vaccinations and travel insurance, which you must have. The tour cost does not include airline taxes which will be invoiced directly 6-8 weeks before travel.

FUNDRAISING

Fundraising is certainly achievable if you put your mind to it and needn’t be daunting – the important thing is to let everyone know about the great cause you are fundraising for and to enjoy yourself! With a bit of creativity, energy and determination you will easily be able to reach your fundraising target. Here are some ideas to start you off and we’re more than happy to help with any questions you may have!

Begin by setting up an online donation page and ask everyone you know to donate – the more people you ask, the more you will raise!

Host a dinner night/coffee morning and charge guests for a delicious home cooked meal or tea and cake.

Put on the ultimate fundraising spectacular and host a charity ball!

Host your own pub quiz or bingo night.

Dig out your unwanted treasures and organise a car boot or jumble sale.

Organise a games night and invite friends over, charging for an evening of fun and games!

Leave collection boxes in your local pub or shop or organise a bag pack at your local supermarket.

Your charity will be on hand to provide you with a fundraising pack and plenty of useful hints and tips to help you hit your target!

PREPARATION

All of our challenges are graded from Moderate (1) to Extreme (5) and the Great Wall of China Discovery is graded as Difficult (3).
This trek is perfect for the intrepid explorer! You’ll be on tough terrains (with plenty of stairs!) so ample training will be required and essential to prepare you for the challenge. You can find a full training guide on your Participant’s Page upon booking onto the trek.

We will provide you with a full kit list tailored to your trek once you have signed up so that you will be fully prepared before you go! It’s important to purchase good quality kit and equipment that suits you – never underestimate the importance of good walking boots! It’s vital to trek with comfortable shoes that you have worn in during your training months.

We have teamed up with Cotswold Outdoor to offer our Skyline participants a special 15% discount in recognition of your continued support so do utilise this when purchasing your equipment for the challenge! (Further info provided upon booking.)

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